Senator positions on the filibuster:
21
Eliminate filibuster
27
Committed to changes
0
Open to changes
2
Opposed to changes
21
Eliminate filibuster
27
Committed to changes
0
Open to changes
2
Opposed to changes
Where Democratic senators stand on changing or eliminating the filibuster
All but two senators who caucus with the Democrats voted to do away with the 60-vote threshold for voting rights legislation on Wednesday.
Fifty one senators were needed to reject the ruling of the chair to eliminate the filibuster rules one time in order to pass a Democratic voting rights package. The motion failed 52-48, with Sens. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) voting with every Senate Republican to reject it.
Over the past year, Democratic senators have floated a number of changes to the filibuster, including a “talking filibuster,” reducing the 60-vote threshold to 55 votes, and eliminating the filibuster altogether. And along the way, the party has drifted toward making a change — with some now regarding it as a litmus-test issue, specifically on voting rights. As The Fix has reported, many of the senators calling for changing or eliminating the filibuster previously supported the filibuster when Republicans controlled the Senate. Some were uneasy with such changes as recently as last year.
Below is the most recent position that each Democratic senator has taken on changing the filibuster rules. In each case, we’re relying on their most recent comments or votes to categorize their position on the filibuster. These statements — and the categories each senator lands in — will be updated when applicable.
Sens. Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont are independents who caucus with Democrats.